Improvement in circulating superoxide dismutase bevels: Role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in rheumatoid arthritis

Superoxide anion radical plays a significant role in inflammation, like rhe umatoid arthritis. Superoxide dismutase enzyme known to dismutate superoxid e anion radical does not play any significant role in this multisystem dise ase. This paper reports that very low levels of circulating superoxide dism utase levels are observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and these l evels significantly improve with NSAID therapy. The possible mechanism of t he action is discussed. (C) 2000 Academic Press.